Claims sobering up centres not the answer to alcohol violence

TONY EASTLEY: Police in NSW will soon be locking up nasty drunks for the night in sobering-up centres in an attempt to stop people fighting on the streets.

Since the death of young Thomas Kelly in Kings Cross last year, the State Government has introduced several policies to try and reduce alcohol-related violence.

With more here's Will Ockenden.

WILL OCKENDEN: Outside the pub in Sydney, last drinks are a long way away.

(Question to patron) So how often do you go to the pub?

ANGELA: Oh, about every weekend nearly.

WILL OCKENDEN: Angela is out with her friends and while she's just old enough to legally drink, she's seen plenty of alcohol-related violence.

ANGELA: Pretty horrifying, terrifying experience.

WILL OCKENDEN: She likes the idea of locking away problem-causing drunks for the night.

ANGELA: Oh, it's alright because then the drunk people aren't walking around town and stuff so it prevents violence.

WILL OCKENDEN: Are you worried that if you were drunk, they'd put you in there?

ANGELA: No, because I'm not a violent person.

WILL OCKENDEN: New South Wales Police Minister Mike Gallacher says sobering-up centres were an election promise, and will reduce violence.

MIIKE GALLACHER: These cells, this complex is about changing people's behaviour. It's about saying to people if you come here once, don't come back for seconds. It's about saying to people when you speak to a police officer because if you're drunk and disorderly behaviour, the words you utter to that police officer can determine where you spend the night - in your own bed or one supplied by me.

WILL OCKENDEN: The sobering up centres will be run as trial due to begin in July. Critics of the plan include the State Opposition, and Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who has previously labelled them a "bandaid" solution.

MICHAEL THORNE: They certainly don't deal with the general problem of drunkenness in entertainment precincts like Kings Cross.

WILL OCKENDEN: Michael Thorne is from the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, a policy and advocacy group pushing for more restrictions on alcohol use.

MICHAEL THORNE: If we were to do as the foundation has been calling for and that is to bring back trading hours to 3am in Kings Cross, that's what the local community want, we will see an immediate reduction in violent incidents and hospital admissions.

WILL OCKENDEN: Sobering-up centres exist in other states and territories, including the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

A 2007 report from the WA Government's Drug and Alcohol Office found they've reduced police and court time.

MICHAEL THORNE: Frankly, we think Government is just too afraid to take on the liquor industry, that's what they should be doing. We know it works. We know that reducing availability of alcohol will work and will cut down on the sorts of social problems that we see and certainly reduce the violence that we see in these entertainment precincts.

WILL OCKENDEN: The New South Wales Police Association says it isn't the job of the police to look after people who've had too much to drink.

It says reducing trading hours, restricting high alcoholic drinks and locking people out of pubs after a certain time would be more effective.

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